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Should I buy a fretless?
- Thread starter toxi_20
- Start date
yes both.
I started on a fretted 5.
Six months later I was playing a fretless 6 and have never looked back.
Find one good bass that speaks to you and play it every day.
There is a number of unique experiences you can have as a musician.
Playing a fretless bass is one of them. I don't know anything else that feels the same in the world.
Whether or not you like it is something else but trying it is a must.
Playing a fretless bass is one of them. I don't know anything else that feels the same in the world.
Whether or not you like it is something else but trying it is a must.
Why do you want to try one? Seriously. Are you willing to put in hours of work to be able to play them well?
If you really want one, get a good one, the only thing you can tell from a cheap one is what it's like to play a cheap bass. You can find good deals on used Carvins and they are a good quality bass.
I bought a fretless P neck for my JazzBass in 1976, because the bare rosewood board looked so sweet in the catalogs. Played it as if it was a bass. I never heard of "Mwah" or slides on a bass, so I didn't have any desire to try them. About 3 or 4 years ago, I bought a fretted bass(which I still suck at, big time) I'm trying to learn to play frets without sounding like a small plane crashing into a parking lot full of cars. I swapped the necks on the two basses and kept the Precision.
My Fenders mostly sit in their stands waiting to be played, as I took the next step and went upright
My advice to you is "DO IT"
My Fenders mostly sit in their stands waiting to be played, as I took the next step and went upright
My advice to you is "DO IT"
I wouls recommend You to try it out before buying, because it is an absolutely different to fretted. I played fretted, but when i heard and tried out fretless, something strange sudenly happened to me. From that moment i play only fretless.
@toxi_20 Yes you should venture into the world of fretless. Eventually, someone will ask if you can play or record a fretless bass track. Fretless benefits to develop your ear.
Regarding 6-string basses, I happen to be among the minority that loves them. I own basses with 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-strings. Of those eleven are 6-string basses (8 fretted / 3 fretless). Even if I don't need the extra notes for some songs, I know they're available if I wish. When you're not using the Low B string, it's a thumb rest. The High C string is excellent to extend chords.
Transition time to a 6-string is not as long as you might imagine. Sit down with it for a day of exploration: Notice positions of your extra notes, discover 2 octaves of each scale within one position, experiment with chording, tapping is wonderful with the extended lower and upper registers.
The only "drawback" is verbal/typed baggage that accompanies it, from traditionalists who insist you must play a 4- or 5-string only. To this effect, know there are bass masters who are known for the 6-string bass: John Patitucci, Steve Bailey, Alain Caron, Anthony Jackson, Les Claypool, Oteil Burbridge, Felix Pastorius (Jaco's son), John Myung, Gerald Veasley, Adam Nitti, Tye Zamora, & Phil Lesh. (I know my mind is temporarily slipping on others.) Others playing ERBs include Bill The Buddha Dickens, Yves Carbonne, among other greats.
Regarding 6-string basses, I happen to be among the minority that loves them. I own basses with 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-strings. Of those eleven are 6-string basses (8 fretted / 3 fretless). Even if I don't need the extra notes for some songs, I know they're available if I wish. When you're not using the Low B string, it's a thumb rest. The High C string is excellent to extend chords.
Transition time to a 6-string is not as long as you might imagine. Sit down with it for a day of exploration: Notice positions of your extra notes, discover 2 octaves of each scale within one position, experiment with chording, tapping is wonderful with the extended lower and upper registers.
The only "drawback" is verbal/typed baggage that accompanies it, from traditionalists who insist you must play a 4- or 5-string only. To this effect, know there are bass masters who are known for the 6-string bass: John Patitucci, Steve Bailey, Alain Caron, Anthony Jackson, Les Claypool, Oteil Burbridge, Felix Pastorius (Jaco's son), John Myung, Gerald Veasley, Adam Nitti, Tye Zamora, & Phil Lesh. (I know my mind is temporarily slipping on others.) Others playing ERBs include Bill The Buddha Dickens, Yves Carbonne, among other greats.
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Yes, you should buy a fretless.
Doesn't need to be super expensive. Just pick one that has similar neck shape you like on your fretted bass. IMO that's a good way to improve the odds you'll like it. That's my buyer advice.
The notes are the same. There's just more negotiation space between them. If you're worried about precision of the notes don't be. Nobody nails it the first time. If you land flat move up. You'll find the back and forth transition between fretless and fretted will come pretty quickly. You already know some basics so just move your fingers a little north because the note is where the fret would be. You'll learn vibrato techniques that will translate to other things. You'll get to make mwaaah which is awesome, mwaaah will enhance your social life and your general state of well-being. It will be a great tool to have in a band situation no matter what style you like. You'll find it is really nothing to be intimidated by.
Doesn't need to be super expensive. Just pick one that has similar neck shape you like on your fretted bass. IMO that's a good way to improve the odds you'll like it. That's my buyer advice.
The notes are the same. There's just more negotiation space between them. If you're worried about precision of the notes don't be. Nobody nails it the first time. If you land flat move up. You'll find the back and forth transition between fretless and fretted will come pretty quickly. You already know some basics so just move your fingers a little north because the note is where the fret would be. You'll learn vibrato techniques that will translate to other things. You'll get to make mwaaah which is awesome, mwaaah will enhance your social life and your general state of well-being. It will be a great tool to have in a band situation no matter what style you like. You'll find it is really nothing to be intimidated by.
When I was struggling many years ago (not in a band, not inspired, etc) I seriously thought about. It omg a really nice fretless and just going all in. I never did. Many years later I played a Roscoe fretless. It’s not my only bass but if I HAD to choose just one, I’d lean heavily to this bass. It sounds amazing, plays amazing, lols amazing. It can be played to not sound fretless, something a fretted bass can’t do - sound fretless.
I love my fretted Roscoe (s) as well, but there’s just something special about my fretless 5.
I love my fretted Roscoe (s) as well, but there’s just something special about my fretless 5.
Not bad advice. Not sure it’s true but I have a matching pair of Roscoe Century 5’s - fretted and fretless. The necks are similar but not the same as all the necks are finished by hand so they all vary a little. My fretless neck is thinner front to back than my fretted neck,
You’re on Talkbass. The answer to “should I buy?” is always yes.
I’ve had a fretless in my herd for a few decades now, and have a regular gig where I use it. It’s a different voice, and absolutely the right voice for some things.
A fretless sounds VERY different depending on the fingerboard material. Those guys that say they can make a fretless sound like a fretted bass don’t have a fretless with a hard board (ebonol, epoxy, etc) - there’s no way anyone can play my fretless (ebonol) and not have mwah sticking out all over the place. A raw wood fingerboard, though, you can pull that off.
I’ve had a fretless in my herd for a few decades now, and have a regular gig where I use it. It’s a different voice, and absolutely the right voice for some things.
A fretless sounds VERY different depending on the fingerboard material. Those guys that say they can make a fretless sound like a fretted bass don’t have a fretless with a hard board (ebonol, epoxy, etc) - there’s no way anyone can play my fretless (ebonol) and not have mwah sticking out all over the place. A raw wood fingerboard, though, you can pull that off.
Yes, exactly, there is no bulletproof way to buy a first fretless. What I mean is I have big hands with a lot of palm and long fingers and I am personally not as comfortable with very thin necks, more comfortable with a classic P shape. That has driven most of my bass purchases over the years. Again, personal, not right or wrong. So if you don't have a clear starting point, basically buying blind, I'd say your odds are better if you know what you like and what you dislike about any bass you currently have. I hope this helps and I hope OP knows there's no perfect answer because this instrument stuff is all personal preference. I've played long enough to know that for better or worse I am a happy camper with a classic C, closer to a '70's P is better. So I'm drawn to EBMM and Fender Ps, reissues, or that vintage. Likewise, I am less comfortable on a Jazz, especially a super thin D. I have a couple Kramers from my babyhood that I keep because of dumb sentimental attachment, they have crazy fast thin necks but my hand fatigues a lot sooner so I really don't play them. The point is there are so many variables that can affect your preference. So the more you know about what you like the better luck you'll have, short of being able to play the basses in person.
If you ask the TB universe if you should buy something, the answer always comes back yes.
Specific to the original question, If you're interested in trying a fretless, try to get a fretless that's reasonably close to what you play today. It makes the learning curve shorter. In my case, my first fretless was a Tony Franklin because I was already a P bass guy. It was a good decision.
If you're interested in a 6 string, try fretted first as you'll have to figure out whether the wider neck, narrower string spacing and specifically the C string work for you. If you also add in fretless at the same time, that could be taking on too much change all at once. In my case, I have tried a few 6 strings, but I didn't have much use for the C string. I also struggled with balancing the string spacing and neck width (the more favorable the string spacing, the neck becomes too wide, the more favorable the neck width, the string spacing becomes too tight). Anyway, a 6 string ultimately wasn't for me.
Specific to the original question, If you're interested in trying a fretless, try to get a fretless that's reasonably close to what you play today. It makes the learning curve shorter. In my case, my first fretless was a Tony Franklin because I was already a P bass guy. It was a good decision.
If you're interested in a 6 string, try fretted first as you'll have to figure out whether the wider neck, narrower string spacing and specifically the C string work for you. If you also add in fretless at the same time, that could be taking on too much change all at once. In my case, I have tried a few 6 strings, but I didn't have much use for the C string. I also struggled with balancing the string spacing and neck width (the more favorable the string spacing, the neck becomes too wide, the more favorable the neck width, the string spacing becomes too tight). Anyway, a 6 string ultimately wasn't for me.
At my first rehearsal since lockdown last weekend, I apologized to the singer/pianist for my intonation being off and explained that it's hard to focus on both remembering the chords and playing in tune at the same time. She looked at my (double) bass and asked "wait, are all basses fretless?" 
I recommend going for it, but realizing you have to commit to adding one more thing (intonation) you have to practice and learn and consistently focus on (in truth you should already be listening for intonation, but most people playing fretted instruments don't seem to think about it at all). It will make you a better musician and become second nature, just like holding your hands in the right positions and playing the right notes with the right articulation at the right time. Singers, trombonists and orchestral strings players do it, so it's not like it's an unsolvable problem.
As for 6-string, sure, why not! I just got a 6-string fretless super cheap that's a lot of fun to play. Sometimes I forget what string I'm on and the spacing is a little tight, but it's just one extra string on the top and bottom, and the string crossing intervals are always the same, unlike guitar, so it doesn't really matter what string you're on. You can always find the right note on adjacent strings if you've been practicing your scales and arpeggios.
I think the learning curve going form 4- to 6-string is negligible. Going from fretted to fretless requires learning an element of musicianship that you may not have felt the need to learn before (intonation). So it can be really hard and involve some rudimentary ear training if you don't already have that in your music education background. But it's worth it!
I recommend going for it, but realizing you have to commit to adding one more thing (intonation) you have to practice and learn and consistently focus on (in truth you should already be listening for intonation, but most people playing fretted instruments don't seem to think about it at all). It will make you a better musician and become second nature, just like holding your hands in the right positions and playing the right notes with the right articulation at the right time. Singers, trombonists and orchestral strings players do it, so it's not like it's an unsolvable problem.
As for 6-string, sure, why not! I just got a 6-string fretless super cheap that's a lot of fun to play. Sometimes I forget what string I'm on and the spacing is a little tight, but it's just one extra string on the top and bottom, and the string crossing intervals are always the same, unlike guitar, so it doesn't really matter what string you're on. You can always find the right note on adjacent strings if you've been practicing your scales and arpeggios.
I think the learning curve going form 4- to 6-string is negligible. Going from fretted to fretless requires learning an element of musicianship that you may not have felt the need to learn before (intonation). So it can be really hard and involve some rudimentary ear training if you don't already have that in your music education background. But it's worth it!
I think I'll find a semi-cheap fretless (like MiM Fender) and try it out in a shop if I can find one. Also, I play 5-string. Should I take a 5-string fretless or should I go for a 4-string?
Thanks again to all of you people in this wonderful community.
Thanks again to all of you people in this wonderful community.
I played fretted sixes for many years, and played a fretless six for many years as well. Both 6 strings and fretless basses take some serious getting used-to IMO/IME. So instead of jumping into both at the same time, I will suggest trying either fretless or six string (or one of each, if you have the dough) to see if you even like those features. Then get one sweet fretless six string fretless at some point, if you find you love both and want to combine them.
Also, if you decide in the end that fretless and/or 6 string is not for you after all, you will most likely be able to re-sell a fretless 4 and/or a fretted six more easily than you can sell a fretless six string. Just not a lot of people out there looking for a fretless six, compared to more commonly specced instruments.
Also, re trying or buying online. I would say try if you can. Go to a store, if there is one near you, and try any fretless and sixes that they have. But you might have to go online when it comes time to buy, in order to get what you want, because they don't generally stock a lot of six string or fretless basses, and six string fretless basses even less so.
My two cents. Best of luck!
